To observe fiscal discipline and streamline management in public accounts, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Finance Department approved measures to be strictly observed by all government departments, latest by June 30, 2013.
According to an official handout issued on Wednesday, funds placed at the disposal of departments are to be expended uniformly during the current financial year and all accrued liabilities are to be promptly cleared and not be postponed towards the end of the current financial year. All concerned authorities shall ensure issuance of sanctions, completion of formalities and procurement of stores well in time so that claims can be presented for pre-audit to the respective accounts offices timely. All bills against releases for financial year 2012-13 must be presented to the KP accountant general /district/agency accounts officers on or before June 17.
In case of requirement of any additional information by the accounts office, it shall return the un-passed bill till the 20th and the concerned departments shall respond promptly and resubmit the bill/claim by the 24th, except in cases of re-appropriation of funds by the finance department. In such cases, bills will be accepted till the 25th of June.
Accounts officers shall issue all cheques/pay orders by the 28th and send the last cheque number/pay order number to the finance department the same day.
Every payment instrument shall be supported by schedule assuring that transfers will have taken place well before presenting of the cheque for payment.
Cheques of lapsable PLAs/SDAs/Assignment Account, Reserve Fund and Works Accounts must be issued well in time and have clearance from the treasury officer, or DAO concerned by 28th June. All cheques drawn against these accounts shall be encashed by 30th June.
Authorities issuing cheques/pay orders shall affix the stamp “not payable after June 30, 2013” on all cheques/pay orders except salary cheques.
All cheques already issued or to be issued, which pertain to the financial year 2012-13, shall be encashed by 30th June, except salary cheques for the month of June 2013 which are payable on or after the 1st July, 2013.
The period of validity of cheques up to June 30, 2013 would not be extended during the next financial year.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) will make necessary arrangements for receipts and payments on 30th June, 2013, till late in the night, to honour all cheques, so issued.
The banks shall not make any transaction from government’s accounts after the deadline of June 30 for ehcques issued on or before June 28, 2013.
The management of NBP shall issue instructions to all concerned for clearance of their claims under assignment accounts by June 30, 2013.
All government cheques shall be submitted to commercial banks by their accounts holders not later than June 28th and regional chiefs of all commercial banks shall issue necessary instructions to their branch officers to present government cheques deposited by their accounts holders to respective state banks for encashment up to June 30th.